Wayne

DO YOU REMEMBER
THAT YOUR COMPANY HAD A REPUTATION OF ITS OWN THAT WAS EARNED THROUGH DECADES OF FIREMEN THAT RAN THERE. YOU TRIED NOT TO DISHONOR THAT REPUTATION . IF SOMEONE ASKED YOU WHERE YOU RAN AND YOU STATED YOU RAN AT ENGINE _ _ , LADDER _ _ SQUAD _ _. YOU FELT GOOD WHEN THEY RESPONDED " YOU RUN AT A GOOD COMPANY.

DO YOU REMEMBER
SOMETIMES THE FEO DIDN'T PUT ON THE HYDRANT GATE WHEN HE HOOKED UP. HE JUST CAPPED THE ONE OUTLET WHILE HOOKING UP THE FRONT SUCTION TO THE OTHER OUTLET. THEN WHEN THE FIRE WENT TO AN EXTRA A SECOND ENGINE COULDN'T HOOK UP TO THAT HYDRANT. THIS HAPPENED MORE OFTEN WITH THE NEW HEAVY HYDRANT GATE

DO YOU REMEMBER
YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO PASS ANOTHER COMPANY BUT AS SOME COMPANIES WERE SLOWER THEN OTHERS YOU SOMETIMES DID PASS THEM ESPECIALLY IF THERE WERE PEOPLE TRAPPED

DO YOU REMEMBER
ANOTHER NAME FOR POMPIER LADDERS WERE SCALING LADDERS

DO YOU REMEMBER
HAVING TO RAISE THE HOODS WHILE PUMPING SO YOU WOULDN'T OVERHEAT YOUR RIG

DO YOU REMEMBER
THE EXPRESSWAY REVERSE EXTENSION LADDER THAT YOU DROPPED FROM THE TOP OF THE JOHN C. LODGE
DO YOU REMEMBER ANOTHER NAME FOR THIS LADDER
"O'DELL LADDER
NOTE I'M NOT 100% POSITIVE OF THIS LAST PART BUT THAT'S WHAT I REMEMBER
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG AND DID ANYONE USE IT AND HOW DID IT WORK OUT

DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW YOU COULD REALLY MOVE TRAFFIC WITH THOSE AIR HORNS COMPARED TO CLANGING OF THE BELL.
YOU COULD BLAST THEM OUT OF THEIR SEATS

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU REMEMBER
ON SOME ENGINES YOU COULDN'T ROLL UP THE FRONT SUCTION AND KEEP IT IN THE WELL. WHEN PUMPING FROM THE TANK FOR INSTANT WATER THE FRONT SUCTION WOULD FILL UP WITH WATER AND BECOME JAMMED IN THAT WELL AND YOU COULDN'T GET IT OUT. YOU HAD TO STRAP THE FRONT SUCTION ON THE FRONT BUMPER

DO YOU REMEMBER
ON THOSE OLD SEAGRAVE ENGINES YOU STRAPPED THE FRONT SUCTION ON THE RIGHT FENDER ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE RUNNING BOARD

DO YOU REMEMBER
THE NEW COLOR "LIME YELLOW CAME IN IN THE YEAR 1973
DID ANYONE LIKE THIS OVER THE TRADITIONAL RED?????????

DO YOU REMEMBER
IN 1974 THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE STYLE PUMPER SQUAD RIG TMS7
DO YOU REMEMBER
IN 1978 THE MINI PUMPER TAC PUMPERS FOR SMALL FIRES AND PARKING STRUCTURES FIRES
HOW MANY GUYS RODE IT??????????????????I DON'T KNOW

DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW WE HAD TO REMOVE THE BACKSEAT SUPPORTS ON THE GRUMMAN ENGINES TO GET OUR GUYS OUT OF THE WEATHER. WITH THE SUPPORTS IN THE GUYS WOULD GET SOAKED WHEN IT WAS RAINING
"BAD DESIGN"

DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW SOME ENGINE MONITORS WERE DESIGNED THAT YOU COULDN'T AIM IT AT A LOW ANGLE IN SOME DIRECTIONS AS THE WATER WOULD HIT THE CAB. THE SHOP COULDN'T PUT AN EXTENSION ON IT TO RAISE IT AS THEN THE MONITOR WOULD HIT THE APPARATUS DOOR OPENER
"BAD DESIGN"

DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN YOU TILLERED YOUR REGULAR RIG AND DIDN'T HAVE TO "DUMP THE BUCKET"

THEN YOU GOT DETAILED TO A COMPANY THAT HAD AN OLDER TRUCK AND' WITHOUT THINKING' JUMPED DOWN FROM THE BUCKET AT THE FIRE ONLY TO HAVE TO GET BACK UP TO "DUMP THE BUCKET"

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU REMEMBER
THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS BOATS

DETROITER....................1893....................
JAMES BATTLE................1900..........................1940
JOHN KENDALL..................1930...........................1976
CURTIS RANDOLPH 1976................
LOUISIA ST. CLAIR JET BOAT 1970....................1977

NEED HELP ON THIS ONE
HOW MANY GUYS RODE THE JETBOAT AND WAS THERE ANYTHING DIFFERENT ABOUT THE WORK SCHEDULE?
DID THEY WORK ALL DAY ON THE BOAT OR DID THEY WORK AT THEIR REGULAR COMPANY AND DRIVE TO THE BOAT WHEN IT WAS NEEDED???????????

OK GUYS, WHAT ARE THESE TWO ITEMS?????????????????????????????????????

THE TOP ONE IS A FIRE ALARM BOX KEY, ONE WAS KEPT IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT
OF ALL RIGS
THE BOTTOM ONE IS LOCATED INSIDE THE FIRE ALARM BOX. IT IS USED TO CHANGE CIRCUITS BY REMOVING FROM ONE
AND INSERTING IT IN ANOTHER "PIN" LOCATION

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU REMEMBER
YELLING TO THE FEO
"HOLD THE WATER" AS YOU HAVE HALF A BLOCK OF LINE STRETCHED AND THE SECOND ENGINE IS HANDLING THE FIRE WITH THEIR RED LINE.
THEN YOU LOOK AND SEE FROM THAT HALF A BLOCK AWAY THE LINE FILLING WITH WATER , LENGTH BY LENGTH , KINK BY KINK UNKINKING WITH THE WATER FLOW. AND YOU SAY TO YOURSELF
"SHIT"

DO YOU REMEMBER
THE ORDER TO CLEAN OFF YOUR HELMET WHEN IT GOT TOO DIRTY

EACH DENT, NICK, GASH, BASH, BURN, SCORCH, BLISTER, MELTED TAR SPOT, BENT SHIELD, REPRESENTED THE MANY FIRES A FIREMAN WENT TO AND THAT HE WAS "THERE AT THE SCENE OF THE FIRE. YOU DON'T GET THAT BEAT UP LOOKING HELMET FROM STANDING OUTSIDE YOU GET IT FROM BEING "IN THE FIRE"
REMEMBER THOSE FIRST DAYS IN THE ENGINE HOUSE AND SEEING SOME OF THE OLDTIMERS WITH SHIELDS AND HELMETS
SO BEAT UP AND CRUDDY THAT YOU COULDN'T EVEN TELL THE COMPANY OR COLOR. IT WOULD BE AN INSULT TO TELL THEM TO WASH IT OFF....................LATER YOU HEARD THE TERM "SHEPHERDS THESE GUYS WEREN'T SHEPHERDS THEY WERE VIKINGS
THAT HELMET WAS LIKE A SOLDIERS MEDALS, IT TOLD YOU WHAT HE DID, WHERE HE WAS AT. HE EARNED EVERY MARK ON HIS HELMET AND SHIELD WITH HIS BODY AND HEALTH.

YOU HOPED AT YOUR NEXT FIRE THE CEILING WOULD COME DOWN ON YOU SO YOUR HELMET WOULDN'T LOOK SO DARN NEW. YOU WERE HALF TEMPED TO JUMP UP AND DOWN ON YOUR HELMET BUT KNEW YOU HAD TO EARN YOUR BEAT UP HELMET THE RIGHT WAY.....BY BEING "IN THE FIRE"

DO YOU KNOW
IF YOU WENT BACK TO THE ENGINEHOUSE TODAY IT WOULD LOOK ALL DIFFERENT EXCEPT FOR ONE PLACE. THE TOP OF ...
THE HOSE TOWER. GENERATION AFTER GENERATION OF FIREMEN STANDING UP THERE EITHER WAITING FOR THE HOSE TO BE RAISED SO YOU COULD PUT THEM ON THOSE TIMBERS OR LIFTING THEM OFF THOSE TIMBERS TO DROP THEM DOWN.
REMEMBER YOU HAD TO LEAN OVER THE SIDE AND LOWER THEM WITH ONE HAND SO THE GUY DOWN BELOW COULD REACH THE BUTTS

REMEMBER THE ONE MAN DROP

YOU WOULD TIE THE ROPE TO THE RADIATOR OR ANY OTHER STATIONARY OBJECT ON THE HOSETOWER FLOOR
YOU WOULD GO UP TO THE HOSE TOWER AND LOWER ONE END OF THE LINE DOWN TO THE FLOOR WHILE PULLING UP THE OTHER END TO THE TOP. YOU WOULD THEN TIE THAT END AROUND THE ROPE AND LET IT SLIDE DOWN. YOU DID A BUNCH THIS WAY. THEN YOU WENT DOWN AND UNDID THEM AND LOADED THEM ON THE RIG. WE DID IT THIS WAY WHEN WE WERE SHORT HANDED

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU REMEMBER
AS A TRIALMAN, HAVING CENTRAL OR THE CHIEF TELLING YOU TO "PUT THE BOSS ON THE PHONE AS HE HAD A MESSAGE FOR HIM. WE COULD TAKE A MESSAGE INVOLVING A FIRE BUT NOT ABOUT SOME DETAILS OR OTHER ORDERS......MAKES YOU WONDER DOESN'T IT.

DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN THE BOSS HAD TO GET UP WHEN AN EXTRA ALARM CAME IN ( AND WE WEREN'T RESPONDING) AFTER MIDNIGHT
I THINK HE STAYED UP FOR ONE HOUR, BUT I'M NOT SURE.

DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW YOU USED TO STAND WHEN YOU WERE THE SECOND MAN ON A 2 1/2 LINE AND WERE BACKING THE FIRST MAN.
SOME GUYS FACED FORWARD BRACING HIM AND OTHERS FACED BACKWARDS AND LET THE FIRST MAN LEARN INTO YOUR BACK

DO YOU REMEMBER
AS A YOUNG "WHIPPER SNAPPER" YOU DID NOT EVEN GET A BREAK TO TAKE YOUR MASK BACK TO THE RIG TO WASH DOWN AND OVERHAUL. AN OLDER MEMBER FROM YOUR COMPANY TOOK IT BACK FOR YOU WHILE YOU HELD "YOUR COMPANIES LINE"

REMEMBER WHEN SOMEONE SAID "HEY KID" GIVE ME THE LINE AS I CAN HIT IT FROM HERE.
AND YOU RESPONDED. IT'S ENGINE # _ _ S LINE WHERE DO YOU WANT IT, I'LL GET IT.

DO YOU REMEMBER
THE SMELL OF ALCOHOL TO CLEAN OFF THE "OFU" GERMS FROM THE MSA SMOKE MASKS FACEPIECE

DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW YOU SHOULDN'T RUN TO THE FIRE FROM THE RIG DURING THE ERA OF THE OLD MSA SMOKE MASK. YOU TRIED TO WALK REAL FAST FROM YOUR RIG. IF YOU WERE OUT OF BREATH AND PUT ON YOUR FACE PIECE IT WAS VERY HARD TO BREATHE. IT WORKED BETTER IF YOU TRIED TO TAKE SLOW EVEN BREATHS

DO YOU REMEMBER
ON SOME TRUCKS THEY HAD A LEVER IN THE CAB THAT DISPENSED A BLACK GRIT UNDER THE TRACTORS WHEELS TO PROVIDE FOR BETTER TRACTION ON ICY STREETS. DID YOU EVER USE IT??? I NEVER DID.

DO YOU REMEMBER
CLEANING THE OIL DRIP PANS UNDER ALL APPARATUSES WITH KEROSENE AND RAGS

DO YOU REMEMBER
HAVING TO DO A PHYSICAL INVENTORY EVERY TIME YOU GOT A NEW CAPTAIN

DO YOU REMEMBER
THAT ONCE YOU TIPPED UPSIDE DOWN THE OLD SODA AND ACID EXTINGUISHER TO CHARGE IT THERE WAS NO WAY TO TURN IT OFF. THE NOZZLE DIDN'T HAVE A SHUT OFF AND YOU HAD TO USE IT ALL UP

DO YOU REMEMBER

THE EXPRESSION SURROUND AND DROWN

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

EVERY DAY AT 0800 WE RAISED OUR FLAG. MOST OF US PROBABLY DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT,
WE JUST DID IT. AFTER SEPTEMBER 11, MANY OF US BOUGHT AN AMERICAN FLAG FOR OUR HOME AND AS WE RAISE IT WE THINK ABOUT IT.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU REMEMBER
THE "PINK" STILL PAD

DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW HARD IT WAS TO BREAK A SECOND STORY WINDOW WITH THAT REAL LONG PIKE POLE WHEN THE HOUSES WERE CLOSE TOGETHER.. YOU COULDN'T GET A GOOD BACK SWING.

DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BREAK OUT A WINDOW WITH A PIKE POLE STARTING AT THE TOP. IF YOU STARTED AT THE BOTTOM A SHEET OF GLASS COULD BREAK OFF AND SLIDE DOWN THE POLE

DO YOU REMEMBER
HITTING A BURNING POLE WITH SHORT BURSTS OF WATER IN THE EVENT THAT THE ELECTRICITY MIGHT TRAVEL DOWN THE STREAM AND ZAP YOU.

DO YOU REMEMBER
YOU NEVER GOT A CLEAR ANSWER AS TO WHOSE POLE IT WAS , EDISONS OR PLC WHEN BOTH LINES WERE ON ONE POLE. THE ANSWER WAS ALWAYS "WE WORK ON BOTH". SOME SAID THAT PLC HAD A CHISELED TOP BUT AFTER AWHILE ALL POLES LOOKED ALIKE

DO YOU REMEMBER
SOMETIMES YOU COULDN'T CUT THE HASP OF A LOCK WITH THE BOLT CUTTERS AS IT WAS TOO THICK. THEN YOU PUT THE POINT OF THE HALLIGAN BAR IN THE HASP AND HIT IT WITH A SLEDGE HAMMER. IT PULLED THE GROOVED HASP FROM THE LOCKS INTERNAL LOCKING MECHANISM

DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN PUNCHING A TRUNK LOCK AND YOU DIDN'T HAVE A SCREWDRIVER TO FIT IN THE INTERNAL LOCKS SLOT, YOU USED THE TIP OF THE TRANSMISSIONS DIP STICK TO FIT IN THAT SLOT AND TURNED IT TO OPEN THE TRUCK.

DO YOU REMEMBER
BEING TOLD TO MAKE SURE TO CHECK THE TRUNK FOR BODIES

DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW HARD IT WAS TO READ THE VIN NUMBER ON THE DASHBOARD, ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE DEBRIS ON IT

DO YOU REMEMBER
RUNNING ACROSS SOME REALLY OLD HYDRANTS THAT WERE DIFFERENT FROM ALL THE OTHERS IN THE CITY AND WONDERING IF THEY WERE THERE DURING THE HORSE ERA

DID YOU EVER

WHEN SEEING A PICTURE OF A CREW ON A HORSE DRIVEN RIG , IMAGINE YOURSELF BEING ON IT .

DID YOU EVER WONDER
IF YOU COULD HAVE "HACKED IT" THOSE OLD DAYS
NO MASKS........NO 1 1/2 LINE.....NO WATER ON THE RIGS, YOU STRETCHED STIFF 2 1/2 LINE ON EVERYTHING......NO UNION
NO GRIEVANCES............... NO KELLYS ......SMELLY HORSES AND SMELLIER HORSE SHIT IN AN UNCONDITIONED ENGINE HOUSE

ONE GAINS A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT TO OUR OLDER RETIREES

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU REMEMBER

SOME GUYS AT HEADQUARTERS "TROLLING"
OTHER GUYS AT HEADQUARTERS "FISHING"

AH YES I DO REMEMBER THOSE DAYS. DO YOU?

US MARRIED GUYS WOULD, EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE , CAST OUR LINE IN THE DETROIT RIVER AND SEE WHAT WE COULD CATCH

THE SINGLE GUYS WOULD CAST THEMSELVES OUT ON LARNED & WASHINGTON BLVD. AND SEE WHAT THEY COULD CATCH

WE USED WORMS, MINNOWS AND CRICKETS

THEY USED PRESSED UNIFORMS, HIGHLY POLISHED SHOES AND A FIREMENS HAT

WE EACH CAUGHT KEEPERS

THE SINGLE GUYS CAUGHT SOME DOGS

US MARRIED GUYS CAUGHT SOME DOGFISH

WE EACH THREW SOME BACK AS THEY WERE TOO YOUNG , BUT WOULD BE KEEPERS IN A COUPLE OF YEARS

THEY GOT NUMBERS
WE GOT NUMBERS OF FISH

THE TROLLERS COULD ALSO FISH IF THEY WANTED TO
BUT US FISHERMEN COULDN'T TROLL. IF WE DID WE WERE COMMITTED TO THE "CATCH AND RELEASE PROGRAM"

THE FISHING WAS GOOD DOWNTOWN
BUT THE TROLLING WAS BETTER, ESPECIALLY FROM 4:45 PM TO ABOUT 5:30 PM

AH YES RETIREES , DO YOU REMEMBER, "WHO COULD FORGET"

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

OK OLD TIMERS
DO YOU REMEMBER
WHAT IS PRINTED ON A HYDRANT
US GUYS HAVE PUMPED OUT HYDRANTS FOR YEARS AND NOBODY KNOWS WHAT IS PRINTED ON THEM

ON THE VERY TOP
OPEN

ON THE SIDE
6DFD
1956
ON THE TOP RING
DFD STANDARD EJIW DETROIT
ON THE BOTTOM SIDE
EJIW
EAST JORDON
MICH
1956

NOTE; I DIDN'T KNOW EITHER, I HAD TO CHECK A HYDRANT OUT FOR THIS E-MAIL

EJIW STANDS FOR EAST JORDON IRON WORKS

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU REMEMBER
WASHING THE RIG AND BEING VERY CAREFUL NOT TO CUT YOURSELF ON THE RUSTED OUT BODY METAL ON SOME OF THOSE OLD APPARATUSES

DO YOU REMEMBER
WASHING THE RIG AND CUTTING YOURSELF

DO YOU REMEMBER
BLEEDING

DO YOU REMEMBER

TELLING THE COOK AS A YOUNG "WHIPPER SNAPPER"

I DON'T CARE FOR BROCCOLI, CAULIFLOWER, OR WHAT EVER

REMEMBER WHAT WAS SERVED FOR THE NEXT MONTH
BROCCOLI, CAULIFLOWER, OR WHAT EVER

DO YOU REMEMBER
THE YEAR WHEN WE HAD TO HAVE A "RIDE LIST" ON THE DASH BOARD EACH MORNING
SOME OF YOU REAL OLD TIMERS WERE LONG GONE WHEN THIS STARTED
I DON'T RECALL THE YEAR IT STARTED

DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN THE DRIVERS AND BOSSES SPOTLIGHT BECAME SO WORN INTERNALLY THAT TO AIM THEM YOU HAD TO GRAB THE LIGHT INSTEAD OF THE HANDLE TO HUNT FOR ADDRESSES

DO YOU REMEMBER

IN THE MORNING OVER COFFEE AND DOUGHNUTS WHEN BOTH UNITS WERE ALL TOGETHER TELLING FIRE STORIES AND "TALKIN SHIT", REAL GUY STUFF. IT WAS 8 'CLOCK (14 BLOWS JUST CAME IN TO RAISE THE FLAG)
THE OFU HAD TO START AND WE HAD TO GO HOME, BUT NOBODY WANTED TO. DO YOU MISS THOSE MORNINGS OLD TIMERS. I THINK MANY OF US DO.

FUNNY ISN'T IT "OLD TIMER" YOU NOW MISS WHAT YOU TOOK FOR GRANTED WHEN YOU WERE A "YOUNG "WHIPPER SNAPPER"

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

I REMEMBER
I REMEMBER A NEIGHBORHOOD BUFF THAT HUNG AROUND ENGINE 43 , HE HAD MORE TIME THEN ANYONE THAT RAN THERE. HE KEPT WATCH OVER THE PLACE WHEN THEY WENT ON RUNS, I CAN'T RECALL HIS NAME.

THEN THEY CLOSED ENGINE 43 AND NATURALLY EVERYONE GOT TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER ENGINE HOUSE.
BUT THIS WAS HIS ENGINE HOUSE OR SHOULD I SAY ENGINE HOME.

I RAN AT ENGINE 56 AT THE TIME. HE SELF TRANSFERRED HIMSELF TO ENGINE 56 AS IT WAS THE NEXT CLOSEST ENGINE HOUSE TO WHERE HE LIVED

WHILE MOST OF US KNEW WHO HE WAS AND WE ALL TRIED TO MAKE HIM FEEL WELCOME IT JUST DIDN'T WORK FOR HIM.    HE WAS THE SENIOR MEMBER OF ENGINE 43 AND NOW HE WAS THE JUNIOR MEMBER OF ENGINE 56. IT WAS SAD TO SEE A PERSON THAT LOST HIS HOME AND HIS FAMILY OF FIREMEN. HE GRADUALLY STOPPED SHOWING UP ..........................

DO YOU REMEMBER

ON THOSE MACK ENGINES, THEY HAD A MICRO SWITCH NEAR THE GEAR SHIFT BY YOUR RIGHT LEG.

IF YOU WERE HEAVY (FROM EATING ENGINE HOUSE FOOD) OR IF YOU JUST LEANED SLIGHTLY INTO THE

GEAR SHIFT WHILE IT WAS IN DRIVE IT WOULD DISENGAGE AND YOU WERE NO LONGER IN DRIVE. YOU

DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING , GEAR WISE. IT WAS PANIC TIME IF IT WAS A RUN

.    YOU STARTED THE RIG, SHIFTED TO DRIVE AND SLIGHTLY SHIFTED YOUR BODY TO THE RIGHT PRESSING THE GEAR SHIFT AND YOU WENT NOWHERE. IT WAS ESPECIALLY TOUGH IF IT WAS YOUR FIRE

  DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW BAD YOU FELT WHEN YOU WERE DETAILED TO DRIVE AT ANOTHER COMPANY AND YOU GOT A BOX , IT WAS YOUR FIRE, AND SOMEONE BEAT YOU TO IT AND STRETCHED FIRST
YOU FELT LIKE CRAWLING IN A HOLE

YOU LOST THEIR FIRE..................... YOU LOST THEIR FIRE
YOU VOWED TO YOURSELF NOT TO LOSE ANOTHER FIRE EVEN IF YOU HAD TO SLEEP IN A CHAIR OR VOLUNTEER FOR COT WATCH.

  DO YOU REMEMBER
AT SOME ENGINE HOUSES THEY HAD A SWITCH , BY THE APPARATUS DOOR, TO CHANGE THE STOP LIGHT
IN FRONT OF QUARTERS ......................GOOD IDEA

DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW TO GET AN EXTRA 15 FEET OF WATER FROM THE RED LINE WHEN YOUR SOURCE OF WATER WAS A    2 1/2 HOOKED UP TO THE HYDRANT INSTEAD OF YOUR FRONT SUCTION DON'T YOU. COME ON OLD TIMER IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO

YOU WOULD TRY TO HIT THE PEAK OF A HOUSE, THE PRESSURE WAS AS HIGH AS YOU COULD GET IT BUT THAT 2 1/2 LINE TO THE HYDRANT JUST DIDN'T SUPPLY ENOUGH WATER..................... SEE YOU OLD FART NOW YOU REMEMBER..........
.    YOU JUST PULLED THE TANK TO PUMP LEVER. NOW THE RED LINE HAD TWO SOURCES OF WATER THE 2 1/2 INCOMING AND THE TANK. ..............
      THE TANK DRAINED IN ABOUT 1 MINUTE BUT THAT GAVE YOU I MINUTE TO HIT THE PEAK    15 FEET HIGHER THEN YOU WERE. IF IT WASN'T OUT YOU JUST REFILLED THE TANK FROM THE 2 1/2 AND DID THE SAME OPERATION......................SEE I TOLD YOU YOU WOULD REMEMBER
MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN IT WAS BELOW ZERO

THERE WAS OVER 1 1/2 FEET OF SNOW ON THE GROUND

CARS WERE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF MANY STREETS

IT WAS YOUR FIRE

THE CLOSEST YOU COULD GET TO THE DWELLING WAS HALF A BLOCK AWAY

OTHER COMPANIES WERE ON THE WAY BUT RIGHT THEN THE FOUR OF YOU WERE ALONE

YOU HAD TO HAND STRETCH HALF A BLOCK OF LINE THROUGH DEEP SNOW

YOU WERE TOTALLY BEAT BY TIME YOU HAD WATER AND NOW YOU HAD TO "GO TO WORK" TO PUT OUT THE FIRE

ANY OTHER JOB YOU WOULD WAIT TILL SOMEONE ELSE SHOWED UP TO HELP YOU

BUT SOMEONE NEEDED YOU "NOW" AND YOU WENT TO WORK

BRINGS BACK MEMORIES DOESN'T IT , OLD TIMER.

"REMEMBER"
WAYNE

DO YOU REMEMBER

WAY BACK THEN, IF YOU WORE A SKI MASK TO KEEP YOUR FACE FROM FREEZING DURING THE SUBZERO WEATHER SOME CHIEF WOULD SAY TO YOU " IF THAT IS NOT PART OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT UNIFORM YOU CAN'T WEAR IT".

I REMEMBER WHO YOU WERE SOME OF YOU OLD FARTS AND WHEN YOU GET IN THE OLD FOLKS HOME I'M SNEAKING IN AND HIDING YOUR DEPENDS

DO YOU REMEMBER
MANY GUYS STORED ON THE RIG A SMALL BAG CONTAINING EXTRA GLOVES AND SOCKS AND WHEN WE RETIRED SOME OF THOSE "OLD FARTS" A SKI MASK

DO YOU REMEMBER

WHEN SOME OF OUR GUYS WORKING WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE ACQUIRED THE RIGHT TO ISSUING LICENSE PLATES WITH DFD BEING THE LETTERS
I'M NOT POSITIVE OF THE YEAR OR YEARS BUT I THINK IT WAS ABOUT 1969 OR 1970

DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN OUR DRESS UNIFORM SHIRT WAS "DARK BLUE" AND WE GOT ISSUED TWO HATS, ONE SUMMER AND ONE WINTER........THEN WE GOT ISSUED JUST ONE HAT THAT HAD A REMOVABLE BAND TO SWITCH FROM SUMMER TO WINTER

DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW WHEN YOUR TRIALMAN GOT CONFIRMED HE RENTED A HALL IN YOUR DISTRICT AND THREW A PARTY

DO YOU REMEMBER
GETTING WOOD SLIVERS FROM THOSE OLD WOOD PIKE POLES AND THEN GETTING FIBERGLASS SLIVERS FROM THOSE WHITE FIBERGLASS ONES

DO YOU REMEMBER
MAKING A BUTT COVER FOR THE 20 ' EXTENSION LADDER ON THE SIDES OF YOUR ENGINE, OUT OF OLD 5" LINE FROM THE AERIAL SCOPE

DO YOU REMEMBER
BEFORE WE GOT THE NEWER WINDOWS WE HAD THOSE OLD WOODEN SCREENS IN THE BASEMENT THAT WE INSTALLED EVERY SPRING. THEY WERE WORN, WARPED AND IN MANY CASES MISMARKED SO YOU
WERE ALWAYS PUTTING THE WRONG SCREENS ON THE WRONG WINDOWS. YOU ALWAYS HOPED THAT THE "OFU: WOULD PUT THEM UP WHILE YOU WERE ON KELLY........................BUT THE "OFU" NEVER DID.

DO YOU REMEMBER
THE RULE ABOUT ABOUT ALL FUEL TANKS ON THE RIGS HAD TO BE 3/4 FULL.

DO YOU REMEMBER
HEY OLD RETIREE, REMEMBER AT A MULTIPLE, IN THE WINTER , SUBZERO DEGREES, STANDING AT THE SALVATION ARMY CANTEEN AND DRINKING COFFEE AND EATING ONE OF THOSE DOUGHNUTS.

NOW WE GO TO STARBUCKS AND DRINK PREMIUM COFFEE OUT OF A FANCY CERAMIC CUP WHILE EATING A FRENCH PASTRY WHILE SITING IN A DESIGNER TABLE SURROUNDED BY BUSINESS PEOPLE THAT WERE STRANGERS DISCUSSING THEIR STOCK PORTFOLIO

STILL THIS DOESN'T EVEN CLOSE TO THOSE GOOD OLD DAYS OF IT BEING SO COLD THAT ICE WAS ENCASING YOU AS YOU WERE STANDING THERE DRINKING REGULAR COFFEE OUT OF THOSE CARDBOARD CUPS EATING A PLAIN OR SUGAR COATED DOUGHNUT SHIFTING BACK AND FORTH TO KEEP YOUR TOES FROM FREEZING WHILE SEEING SOME OLD FRIENDS FROM ACROSS TOWN SENT AS RELIEVING COMPANIES AND CATCHING UP ON OLD TIMES AND "TALKIN SHIT"

DO YOU SOMETIMES MISS STANDING THERE OLD TIMER...................................................ME TOO.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU REMEMBER
I KNOW SOME OF YOU OLD TIMERS REMEMBER THIS

BEING ON "THE ROAD" EVERY DAY TO DRIVE, BE IN CHARGE OF A COMPANY OR TO ACT CHIEF.
THEN YOUR HOME COMPANY HAD AN ASSESSMENT FOR A NEW TV, MICROWAVE, VCR, ETC.

YOU OWED $ 20.00 FOR THIS ASSESSMENT.

THE RULE WAS EVERYONE PAYS THE PAPER FUND AT THEIR "HOME COMPANY" AND IT ALL EVENS OUT OVER TIME.

IT DOES MAKE SENSE AS MANY TIMES YOU WERE DETAILED TO THE SAME COMPANY THAT JUST ASSESSED THE GUYS $20.00 FOR A LARGE SCREEN TV AND IT DOESN'T COST YOU A DIME

DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN THE SENIOR MAN DIDN'T TAKE DETAILS
HE WAS LIKE A "GOD" OR SO HE THOUGHT AND ACTED LIKE ONE
HEY "OLD TIMER" WERE YOU ONE OF THOSE "GOD ACTING SENIOR MEN"

DID YOU EVER

SUSPECT THAT SOME GUYS (WHILE YOU WERE ON KELLY) PUT THEIR NAME DOWN AS STANDING AFTERNOON , COT WATCH OR TAKING A DETAIL WHILE IN REALITY THEY DIDN'T .................................... I THOUGHT SO TOO..................... ESPECIALLY THOSE OLD GOD LIKE SENIOR MEN TAKING CREDIT IN THE WATCH BOOK..... I THINK SOME OF THOSE OLD SENIOR MEN MUST HAVE BOUGHT INK ERASERS BY THE BOX

DO YOU REMEMBER
THAT WE HAD HYDRANT BOOKS JUST LIKE THE DETAIL AND WATCH BOOKS. THIS WAS BEFORE 1967 WHEN WE WENT OUT ON OUR OWN AND GOT INDIVIDUAL CREDIT FOR IT.................................I ALSO SUSPECT THE OLD SENIOR MAN DOCTORED THE HYDRANT BOOK

DO YOU REMEMBER
THAT NOT ONLY WERE THE POLES LONGER AT HEADQUARTERS THEY WERE ALSO THICKER.

YOU WERE USED TO SLIDING THE REGULAR ENGINE HOUSE POLES AND THEN THE FIRST TIME YOU SLID AT HEADQUARTERS YOUR TIMING WAS WAY OFF DUE TO BOTH THE LENGTH AND THICKNESS OF THOSE POLES

AT YOUR HOME POLE YOU HAD IT JUST ABOUT DOWN PAT WHEN TO RELEASE, YOU REALLY DIDN'T HAVE TO LOOK DOWN. AT HEADQUARTERS YOU DID WATCH THE GROUND COMING UP. SOMETIMES YOU RELEASED TOO SOON AND YOU FREE FELL TO THOSE MATS....................YOU TOO......... OLD TIMER...............ME TOO

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE
DO YOU REMEMBER
BEING THE COOK IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND SHOPPING AT EASTERN MARKET, GRATIOT CENTRAL, ,RONNIES MEAT, WRIGLEY'S CORN BEEF, BENNIES PRODUCE. THE SPICE HOUSE, ATLAS WHOLESALE FOODS, VEAL AND PORK WHOLESALE, THE NUT HOUSE, AND THE SO MANY VENDERS THAT WERE SET UP IN THE SHEDS.
YOU WOULD WATCH MANY OF THE FARMERS KIDS HELP THEM SELL PRODUCE ON SATURDAY AND THROUGH OUT THE YEARS WATCH THEM GROW TO ADULTS AND TAKE OVER THE BUSINESS. THEY WERE KIND OF LIKE FAMILY ESPECIALLY IF YOU WERE IN THAT GENERAL AREA FOR MANY YEARS. MANY OF YOU WERE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA FOR OVER 25 YEARS SO YOU REALLY GOT TO KNOW THESE PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES

THEN YOU WENT OVER TO GREEK TOWN AND BOUGHT THOSE HOT LOAVES OF GREEK BREAD THAT AS SOON AS YOU PUT BUTTER ON IT MELTED AS THE BREAD WAS SO FRESH AND HOT.

TODAY OLD TIMER YOU SHOP AT MEIJERS OR FARMER JACKS WHERE NOBODY KNOWS YOU AND YOU DON'T KNOW ANYBODY...........................BACK THEN SHOPPING WAS AN ADVENTURE..................TODAY SHOPPING IS JUST ....................................SHOPPING

DO YOU REMEMBER
WAY BACK WHEN WE HAD THE MANPOWER, THE BOSS ACTUALLY ASSIGNED A "COOKS HELPER". HE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THE REGULAR HOUSE WORK. HE CLEANED THE KITCHEN , REFRIGERATOR, WASHED THE DISHES STARTED THE SOUP, PEELED THE POTATOES AND JUST GOT EVERYTHING READY WHILE THE COOK WENT OUT SHOPPING

THAT IS UNLESS YOU WERE A YOUNG "WHIPPER SNAPPER" COOK. THEN SOMETIMES THE BOSS ASSIGNED YOU A "COOKS HELPER" AND HE DIDN'T HELP MUCH, ESPECIALLY IF HE WAS A LOT OLDER. THEN YOU DID IT YOURSELF...............................I ALSO REMEMBER WHO YOU "COOKS HELPERS " WERE THAT DIDN'T HELP ME. .........................................DON'T LET ME FIND OUT WHAT OLD FOLKS HOME YOU ARE AT................YOUR BED WILL BE FLOURED AND SHORT SHEETED ..................YOU DON'T JUST GET EVEN..................YOU GET AHEAD

DO YOU REMEMBER
THE CHANGE IN MANY DORMITORIES
WHEN I CAME ON AND STARTED AT ENGINE 31, THE ONLY ONE THAT HAD ANY PRIVACY WAS THE CHIEF.
EVERYONE ELSE SLEPT IN THE DORMITORY, EVEN THE TWO BOSSES.

THOUGH OUT THE YEARS GUYS STARTED PUTTING UP TEMPORARY PARTITIONS
THEN THEY CONVERTED NOOKS, CRANNIES AND CORNERS TO GAIN SOME SENSE OF PRIVACY. LATER ON SOME HOUSES ACTUALLY BUILT PERMANENT SEPARATE ROOMS IN THE DORMS
WELL OLD TIMERS I BET IF WE WENT BACK TO SOME OF OUR FIRST ENGINE HOUSES WE WOULD BARELY RECOGNIZE THEM

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU REMEMBER
SOME OF THOSE OLD ENGINE KITCHEN SINKS WERE SO SMALL THAT YOU HAD TO WASH DISHES IN A WASH TUB AND RINSE THEM IN THE SINK.

NOW "OLD TIMER" I KNOW YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU MADE TO HELP YOU RINSE THEM

COME ON THINK....TAKE YOUR TIME..............TAKE SOME GERITOL.................HINT.. IT HELPED GET THE SUDS OFF THE DISHES ...................................THINK.....................COME ON YOU THOUGHT UP THINGS FOR ME TO DO WHEN I WAS A YOUNG "WHIPPER SNAPPER.....I'M SURE YOU CAN REMEMBER THIS

OK HERE IT IS YOU CUT THE BOTTOM OUT OF A PLASTIC TUMBLER AND THEN JAMMED IT INTO THE DRAIN. YOU KEPT THE WATER RUNNING , THE WATER FILLED UP TO THE TOP AND THE SUDS ,BEING ON THE WATERS SURFACE, FLOWED OVER THE TOP OF THE TUMBLER AND INTO THE DRAIN.

MAYBE YOU SHOULD HAVE WORN YOUR MASK MORE, I THINK THE FIRES DRIED OUT YOUR BRAIN IF YOU COULDN'T REMEMBER THIS

HOW MANY OF YOU
WORKED AT EVERY ENGINE HOUSE IN THE CITY
I DID
I LIVED ON BOTH THE WEST AND EAST SIDE SO I WAS TRANSFERRED ACCORDINGLY
I GOT YOUNG "WHIPPER SNAPPER" DETAILS ALL OVER THE CITY
I BECAME A DA, DRIVER, AND FEO , AND MORE DETAILS ALL OVER THE CITY
I DID A LOT OF WORK RELIEFS TO HELP MY SON THROUGH COLLEGE, SO AGAIN I WORKED ALL OVER THE CITY
I DID GET ONE DETAIL TO THE FIRE BOAT AND A LOT OF DETAILS TO THE AIRPORT.
IT WAS A TRULY ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE TO SEE ALL OF OUR FIRE HOUSES

DO YOU REMEMBER
THE NAME OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DECAL PROGRAM

TOT FINDER

DO YOU REMEMBER
THE VERY VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO GIVE MORE THEN THEY RECEIVE FROM OUR JOB.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CLOWNS
REMEMBER AS A LITTLE KID LAUGHING AT THEIR ANTICS AND WISHING YOU COULD BE A FIREMAN

THEN YOU BECAME A FIREMAN AND WORKED WITH THEM
. YOU FOUND OUT IT WASN'T ALL LAUGHTER.

THEY VISITED SICK AND TERMINALLY ILL CHILDREN, SOME BEING TOO SICK TO LAUGH BUT OUR CLOWNS

DID TRY AND GOT MANY TO SMILE

IT'S EASY TO MAKE YOU RETIREES SMILE

IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO MAKE A SICK CHILD SMILE

IT TAKES SPECIAL PEOPLE TO DO THAT

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CLOWNS
ARE THOSE SPECIAL PEOPLE
THEY
MAKE THE WHOLE WORLD SMILE EVERYDAY

WAYNE

DO YOU REMEMBER

PAINTING THE WHITE LINES ON THE FLOOR AND RED LINES ON THE WALL TO GIVE YOU A REFERENCE POINT IN GUIDING YOU IN BACKING UP YOUR RIG.

WAY BACK THEN WHEN YOU DIDN'T HAVE THESE LINES MANY TIMES THE RIGS BACKED IN COCKEYED

DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW GUYS HAD DIFFERENT TOOLS OF CHOICE

SOME GUYS LIKED USING AN AX, OTHERS THE PIKE POLE OR HALIGAN BAR.

DID YOU KNOW, OLD TIMERS ,THAT SOME OF THE GUYS ON THE JOB ARE BUYING THEIR OWN MULTIPURPOSE TOOLS, I HEARD THAT SOME ARE VERY GOOD

I REMEMBER
THE FIREMAN THAT NEVER TOOK A 1 TO 4 DURING HIS ENTIRE CAREER I THINK HE RETIRED AS A CAPTAIN. HE TOLD ME HIS STORY:

AS A TRIALMAN, NATURALLY, YOU COULD NOT TAKE A 1 TO 4. THE GUYS TOLD HIM THAT AS SOON AS HE GOT CONFIRMED HE WOULD GO UPSTAIRS AND LAY DOWN. HE TOLD THE GUYS HE WOULD NOT.

WELL HE GOT CONFIRMED AND THE GUYS WAITED FOR HIM TO LAY DOWN, HE DIDN'T THAT DAY OR THE NEXT, OR THE NEXT. MAYBE IF HE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN TRANSFERRED RIGHT AFTER HE GOT

CONFIRMED HE MIGHT HAVE. BUT NOW IT WAS A CONTEST BETWEEN HIM AND THE REST OF THE ENGINE HOUSE.

THE DAYS ADDED UP TO WEEKS, TO MONTHS AND TO YEARS.. THEN IT WAS A CONTEST WITHIN HIMSELF AND NOT WITH THE GUYS. ME, I FELT THAT A 1 TO 4 WAS SOMETHING THAT MY UNION FOUGHT TO GET ME AND BEING A STRONG UNION MAN I WANTED TO SHOW MY SUPPORT FOR THEM BY TRYING TO NEVER MISS A 1 TO 4. IN 36 YEARS I DON'T THINK I FAILED MY UNION.

DID YOU EVER
UPON GETTING DETAILED TO ENGINE 12, LADDER, 9 WALK BACK TO THE TRAINING ACADEMY SECTION AND LOOK UP AT "THE WALL" AND WONDER HOW IT WOULD BE TO SLIDE THE ROPE AGAIN. YOU DIDN'T THINK ABOUT CLIMBING FROM WINDOW TO WINDOW USING THE POMPIER LADDER. YOU DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT JUMPING FROM THAT FIRE ESCAPE INTO THE LIFE NET. BUT YOU DID THINK ABOUT TAKING ONE MORE ROPE SLIDE BEFORE YOU CHECK OUT
I THINK SOME OF US "OLD TIMERS" MIGHT TRY IT, MAYBE NOT FROM THE TOP BUT FROM A LOWER FLOOR.............................AH, ONE MORE ROPE SLIDE BEFORE THE "BIG ONE"

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU REMEMBER
RUNNING IN THE INNER CITY AND GETTING HELP IN MINUTES ( THIS WAS BEFORE ALL THE COMPANY CLOSINGS)
RUNNING IN THE OUTSKIRTS AND WAITING FOREVER FOR HELP

DO YOU REMEMBER
HIDING YOUR CIGARETTES DURING LAUNDRY DAY WHEN THE GUARD AND TWO PRISONERS FROM

"THE DETROIT OF CORRECTION" CAME TO PICK UP AND DELIVER THE LAUNDRY. THOSE PRISONERS

ALWAYS TRIED TO BUM CIGARETTES. YOU ALSO MADE SURE NO VALUABLES WERE LAYING AROUND.

REMEMBER YOU TOOK TWO TOWELS AND TIED THEM TOGETHER AND WITH THIS YOU TIED 23 OTHER

TOWELS TOGETHER MAKING A 25 TOWEL BUNDLE. THE SHEETS YOU LAID ONE SHEET ON THE FLOOR

AND TOSSED ALL THE SHEETS IN, TYING THE 4 CORNERS TOGETHER. YOU PUT ALL PILLOW CASES IN ONE CASE

IF YOU WERE GOING ON KELLY OR FURLOUGH YOU SOMETIMES TOOK YOUR LAUNDRY HOME TO DO THEM.

IF YOU THREW THEM IN THE BASKETS WHEN YOU CAME BACK TO WORK THERE MIGHT NOT BE ANY

CLEAN ONES. I THINK THE "OFU" TOOK DOUBLES.. THE TOWELS WERE JUST HAND TOWELS LIKE THE

KITCHEN TOWELS . THERE WERE NO TERRY CLOTH BATH TOWELS

DON'T YOU WISH

THAT YOU WOULD HAVE KEPT ONE FIREMENS FIELD DAY POSTER AND STAND SIGN TO PUT UP IN YOUR

GARAGE. OR AT LEAST ONE FIELD DAY TICKET FROM EVERY YEAR YOU WERE ON THE JOB...

"ME TO"

DO YOU REMEMBER

HOW EVERY LITTLE BOY WANTED TO BE A

POLICEMAN, FIREMAN OR COWBOY

AND YOU "OLD TIMER" DID GROW UP TO BE ONE OF THEM

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE
DO YOU REMEMBER
PEELING SOME ROOF SHINGLES WITH THE MONITOR. IF YOU WERE REAL CLOSE TO A GARAGE YOU

WOULD HAVE THE ENGINEER JACK THE PRESSURE UP AS HIGH AS POSSIBLE AND BLAST EVERY

SHINGLE OFF THE ROOF. THEY WENT FLYING EVERY WHICH WAY IT SURE SAVED OUR GUYS A LOT OF WORK
IF YOU WERE REAL CLOSE TO AN OLD BRICK / BLOCK WALL WITH WEAK MORTAR JOINTS THE PRESSURE

WOULD EVEN KNOCK DOWN THAT WALL

DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW ON SOME ENGINES YOU HAD TO TAKE OFF THE 20' EXTENSION LADDER
JUST TO CHECK THE PRIMER OIL.....................YOU HAD TO SMILE AT THIS

DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN YOU HAD A PROBLEM AT HOME THERE WAS ALWAYS SOMEONE THAT KNEW THE ANSWER TO IT AT

WORK. IT COULD BE ABOUT CARPENTRY, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, CEMENT WORK, APPLIANCE REPAIR,

PAINTING , WALLPAPERING GARDENING , INVESTING, RUNNING A BUSINESS, TEACHING, TAKING COLLEGE

COURSES, ETC. ETC.

OUR GUYS SEEM TO HAVE A MUCH BROADER KNOWLEDGE OF SUBJECTS THEN THE AVERAGE PERSON.

DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW SOME GUYS COULD MAKE A DECENT SOUP OUT OF ANY AND EVERYTHING, EVEN

HOTDOGS,,,,,,,,,,,,,EVEN SPAGHETTI

DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN WE DREW CARDS FOR FURLOUGHS . WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DRAW IF EVERYONE AGREED. YOU WOULD

PUT YOUR NAME DOWN NEXT TO THE DATE AND IF NOBODY PUT THEIR NAME DOWN FOR THAT FURLOUGH

IT WAS YOURS.........................................WELLLLLLLLLLL THE CAPTAIN PUT HIS NAME DOWN FOR A

FURLOUGH THAT HE WANTED.............................WELLLLLLLLLL I ALSO PUT MY NAME DOWN FOR

THAT SAME FURLOUGH. I WAS JUST A YOUNG "WHIPPER SNAPPER" AND DIDN'T REALIZE HOW THE

"REAL WORLD WORKED" I GOT THE FURLOUGH ON A DRAW.............................I LIVED TO REGRET IT....................

BOY, DID I EVER LIVE TO REGRET TAKING THE CAPTAINS FURLOUGH

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU REMEMBER

COMING IN ON YOUR XL XXL XXXL OR YOUR FURLOUGH

DO YOU ALSO REMEMBER THAT SOME GUYS WOULD LET YOU WORK PART OF THE DAY

BEFORE TELLING YOU THAT YOU WEREN'T WORKING TODAY

THEN DO YOU ALSO REMEMBER IF YOU WERE SOMEBODY YOU GOT THE CHIEF TO GRANT YOU AN

IMMEDIATE KELLY CHANGE AND NOW THIS WAS YOUR WORK DAY. YOU FIGURED SINCE YOU WERE ALREADY

AT WORK YOU MAY AS WELL MAKE IT COUNT. YOU HAD TO KNOW THE CHIEF AND BE SOMEBODY.,

OTHERWISE EVERYBODY JUST LAUGHED AT YOU AND TOLD YOU TO GO HOME.

DO YOU REMEMBER
THE OLD BEAUTIFUL WOODEN SHINGLES ON THAT BUILDING ACROSS FROM ENGINE 10 AND LADDER 4 THE EARLY 1960 S

MOST OF YOU WON'T REMEMBER THIS

THEY HAD AN OLD WOODEN HAND BALL BEHIND ENGINE 36, HELEN AND MILLER.

IT WAS DILAPIDATED BACK THEN SO I IMAGINE IT WAS TORN DOWN WHEN MOST , IF NOT ALL OF US
CAME ON THE JOB

I WALKED PAST THERE TO GO TO SCHOOL IN 1945 , WE WENT IN TO THE FIRE HOUSE TO GET A DRINK

OF WATER .

DO YOU REMEMBER
HEARING "DON'T RUN OVER THE BUTTS"

DID YOU KNOW

OLD ENGINE 48 S QUAD WAS BUILT BY SEAGRAVE AND CAME IN SERVICE IN 1962

THE FIRST REPAINTED LIME YELLOW RIG WAS THE OLD BOAT TENDER IN 1973

THE FIRST NEW LIME YELLOW RIG WAS LADDER 29 IN 1973

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE
WAYNE

THE FOLLOWING ARE RULES AND REGULATIONS
YEARS..... 1865..... 1868....... 1901

"OTHER CITIES"

SOME LATER ONES WERE FROM DETROIT AND I'LL IDENTIFY THOSE

NOT ALL ORDERS WILL BE LISTED, JUST THE INTERESTING ONES

IN THE "1800S" ORDERS, THESE WERE THE ONLY ONES I COULD FIND

THE YEAR
1865

SECTION 17

THE OFFICER IN CHARGE SHALL PRECEDE HIS APPARATUS IN GOING TO

OR RETURNING FROM A FIRE

SECTION 18

THE DRIVER, ENGINEER AND STOKER MAY RIDE ON THE ENGINE,

AND THE DRIVER AND ONE MAN ON THE TENDER, AND NO MORE

THE YEAR

1868

GENERAL ORDERS NO. 11

WHEN A COMPANY IS READY TO RETURN HOME, EITHER FROM A WORKING FIRE OR AN

ALARM OF FIRE WITHOUT WORK , THE MEN WILL BE FORMED AND MARCHED ON THE STREET

AHEAD OF THE APPARATUS IN TWO RANKS, WITH THE OFFICER AHEAD, OR ON THE

SIDEWALK ABREAST OF THE ENGINE OR TRUCK HORSES, IN ONE RANK, WITH THE OFFICERS

AHEAD. THE FILE WILL NOT BE MORE THEN ONE PACE APART, EITHER IN ONE OR TWO

RANKS

GENERAL ORDERS NO. 16

THE FOREMAN OF ENGINE COMPANIES WILL RIDE UPON THE ASH PANES OF STEAMERS

WITH THEIR ENGINEERS. THEY WILL REQUIRE ONE MAN TO KEEP AHEAD OF THE HORSES

AND SEE THAT HE IS RELIEVED FREQUENTLY, USING THE STOKER FOR THAT PURPOSE

IF NECESSARY, AND THEMSELVES TAKING THE LEAD UPON APPROACHING A FIRE.

NO MAN RUNNING AHEAD OF THE HORSES SHOULD LEAVE HIS POSITION UNTIL RELIVED

BY SOMEONE SENT AHEAD BY THE FOREMAN FOR THAT PURPOSE.

NO MORE THEN TWO PERSONS SHOULD RIDE UPON THE ASH PAN, EXCEPT UPON VERY SMOOTH

PAVEMENT, AND WHERE THE PAVEMENT IS VERY ROUGH, THE FOREMAN SHOULD REQUIRE

EVERY MAN EXCEPT THE DRIVER TO DISMOUNT

THE YEAR
1901
NOTE:(1) THE CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED "CHIEF ENGINEER:

NOTE:(2) THE OPERATION OF THE HORSE PULLED STEAM ENGINE WAS A THREE MAN OPERATION

THE "DRIVER" DROVE THE RIG THERE

THE "ENGINEER" RODE THE BACK END AND OPERATED THE STEAM ENGINE WHEN THEY GOT TO

THE FIRE, WHILE THE DRIVER UNHITCHED THE HORSES AND CARED FOR THEM.

THE "STOKER" ALSO RODE THE BACK END WITH THE ENGINEER. UPON ARRIVING AT THE FIRE

HE FED FUEL TO THE BOILER.

RULE 3
CHIEF ENGINEER.......... (CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT)

SECTION 1
THE CHIEF ENGINEER SHALL DEVOTE HIS WHOLE TIME AND ATTENTION TO THE

FIRE DEPARTMENT, HAVE SOLE AND ENTIRE COMMAND AT FIRES AND ALARMS OVER ALL

OFFICERS , MEMBERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT, AND ALL APPARATUS AND

APPURTENANCES BELONGING TO THE SAME, AND HE SHALL TAKE ALL MEASURES WHICH HE

SHALL DEEM EXPEDIENT FOR THE EXTINGUISHING OF FIRES, PROTECTION OF PROPERTY,

PRESERVATION OF ORDER, AND OBSERVANCE OF THE LAWS OF THE STATE, ORDINANCES OF

THE CITY, AND RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT

RULE 6

OFFICERS

SEC. 9

THEY SHALL NOT PERMIT RACING GOING TO OR RETURNING FROM A FIRE, NOR PERMIT

THEIR APPARATUS TO PASS ANOTHER APPARATUS (UNLESS DISABLED) GOING TO THE SAME

FIRE

SEC. 11

THEY SHALL JUSTLY APPORTION AMONG THE MEMBERS OF THE COMPANY THE WORK

REQUIRED ABOUT THE HOUSE , AND SHALL SEE THE SAME IS COMPLETED AND THAT

EVERYTHING IS IN READINESS FOR INSPECTION DAILY AT 10:30 AM, SHARP, AT WHICH TIME

ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMPANY WILL APPEAR IN UNIFORM, EXCEPT IN CASE OF A WORKING

FIRE DURING THE PREVIOUS NIGHT

RULE 7

ENGINEERS

SEC. 4

THE FIRES OF ENGINES SHALL NOT NOT BE DUMPED UPON PAVEMENTS OF BITUMINOUS
ROCK OR ASPHALTUM

SEC. 6

THEY WILL THOROUGHLY CLEANSE THEIR BOILERS AT LEAST ONCE EVERY MONTH. SUCH

CLEANING MUST BE DONE IMMEDIATELY AFTER RETURN FROM EXERCISING HORSES

. HEATERS SHALL ALSO BE EMPTIED AND CLEANED ONCE EVERY MONTH, BUT NOT ON THE

SAME DAY THAT BOILERS ARE CLEANED

SEC. 10

THEY SHALL HAVE THEIR APPARATUS CLEAN AND READY FOR INSPECTION DAILY AT 10:00 AM

RULE 8

DRIVERS

SEC. 1

DRIVERS SHALL TAKE PROPER CARE OF THEIR HORSES, EXERCISE THE GREATEST CAUTION IN THEIR

KEEPING AND MANAGEMENT, KEEP THE STALLS CLEAN, AND SEE THAT EVERYTHING PERTAINING TO THE

HORSES, HARNESS, HANGERS, ETC., IS IN PERFECT ORDER AND READY AT ALL TIMES FOR IMMEDIATE

SERVICE

SEC. 4

DRIVERS SHALL NOT PASS A FIRE TO TAKE A HYDRANT, UNLESS BY SO DOING THEY CAN OBTAIN A CLOSER

POSITION TO THE FIRE WITHOUT SHUTTING OUT ANOTHER COMPANY THAT MAY BE SEEN OR IS KNOWN TO

BE COMING FROM ANOTHER DIRECTION.

SEC. 6

THEY SHALL NOT DRIVE THEIR APPARATUS OVER HOSE EXCEPT WHEN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. DRIVERS OF

HOSE APPARATUS WILL LAY THEIR HOSE CLOSE TO THE CURB OF THE STREET AS POSSIBLE

RULE 11

HOSEMEN AND LADDERMEN
HOUSE AND HOUSE WATCH

SEC. 5

IT SHALL BE THE DUTY OF THE MAN ON WATCH TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR ALARMS, TO SEE THAT THE

APPARATUS, HORSES, HARNESS AND EVERYTHING APPERTAINING THERETO IS IN GOOD ORDER AND READY

FOR IMMEDIATE SERVICE. THAT NO DISTURBANCES ARE ALLOWED IN OR ABOUT THE HOUSE, AND REPORT

ANY AND ALL VIOLATIONS OF THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS IN OR ABOUT THE HOUSE TO THE

COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE COMPANY

RULE 13

CARE OF HORSES, APPARATUS, HOSE, ETC.

SEC. 1

HORSES SHALL BE FED NOT MORE THEN FOUR QUARTS OF GRAIN AND ABOUT TWENTY POUNDS OF HAY

DAILY, AND TWICE A WEEK SHALL BE FED A BRAN MUSH

SEC. 2

HOURS FOR FEEDING HORSES SHALL BE 6:30 AM AND 4: AM, AND MUST BE WATERED AT LEAST THIRTY

MINUTES BEFORE FEEDING TIME

SEC. 3

HORSES SHALL BE THOROUGHLY GROOMED EVERY MORNING, THEIR HOOFS PICKED OUT AND CLEANED,

THEIR MANES AND TAILS WASHED WITH SOAP AND WATER ONCE EVERY WEEK AND THOROUGHLY DRIED

AFTER WASHING, THE SHEATH SHALL BE WASHED EVERY TWO WEEKS. GREY OR WHITE HORSES MAY HAVE

STAINS SPONGED OFF WITH WARM WATER AND SOAP, BUT MUST BE THOROUGHLY DRIED IMMEDIATELY.

  WHITE LEGS MAY BE WASHED IN THE SAME MANNER, OTHERWISE THE LEGS MUST NEVER BE WASHED.

WASHING HORSES IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN, UNLESS BY PERMISSION OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER, AND THEN

ONLY WITH BUCKET AND SPONGE.

SEC. 4

ON RETURNING FROM AN ALARM, HORSES MOUTH AND NOSTRILS MUST BE SPONGED OUT, AND MAY BE

GIVEN A FEW SWALLOWS OF WATER, AND IF WARM, MUST BE SCRAPED, RUBBED DRY, AND BLANKETED.

  SWEAT SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM AROUND THE EYES AND UNDER THE TAIL WITH A DAMP SPONGE.

HORSES MUST NEVER BE GIVEN GRAIN WHILE HOT AFTER A RUN OR EXERCISE

SEC. 5

TEASING OR ANNOYING HORSES, OR TEACHING THEM TRICKS IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN

SEC. 6

HORSES SHALL BE EXERCISED DAILY WITHIN THREE BLOCKS OF THE HOUSE, FOR A PERIOD OF NOT LESS

THEN ONE-HALF-HOUR, HITCHED TO THE APPARATUS (SUNDAYS EXCEPTED) . IN WET WEATHER THE HORSES

SHALL BE EXERCISED WITHOUT THE APPARATUS

SEC. 7

A BUCKET MUST NOT BE USED TO CATCH THE HORSE'S URINE, NOR SHALL THEY BE TAUGHT ANY LIKE

PECULIARITIES. IF A HORSE IS STRAINING TO URINATE, STRAW SHOULD BE SHAKEN UNDER HIM. THE STALL

SHOULD BE WASHED OUT IMMEDIATELY AND ALL MANURE MUST BE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY.

SEC. 8

IF A HORSE IS INJURED OR SHOWS SIGNS OF SICKNESS THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE COMPANY MUST

BE NOTIFIED AT ONCE.

SEC. 9

HORSES MUST BE TREATED KINDLY, TAUGHT BY KINDNESS TO COME PROMPTLY TO THEIR PLACE AND

PERFORM THEIR PART OF THE SERVICE WITHOUT THE UNNECESSARY USE OF THE WHIP . THE UNNECESSARY

USE OF A WHIP BY ANY MEMBER WILL SUBJECT THE OFFENDER TO SUSPENSION OR DISMISSAL.

RULE 15

SEC. 1

HOSE SHALL NOT BE ALLOWED TO REMAIN ON THE APPARATUS MORE THAN 24 HOURS IN A DAMP AND WET

CONDITION, BUT SHOULD BE CHANGED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

SEC. 2

HOSE THAT HAS NOT BEEN IN SERVICE FOR A PERIOD OF THIRTY DAYS SHOULD BE CHANGED AS SOON

THEREAFTER AS POSSIBLE.

RULE 17

SEC. 1

NO OFFICER OR MEMBER OF THE DEPARTMENT SHALL, EXCEPT IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTY,

ENTER A SALOON WHILE WEARING ANY PART OF THE UNIFORM WHICH IDENTIFIES HIM WITH THE

DEPARTMENT

RULE 20

SEC. 1

NO LOUD OR BOISTEROUS TALKING, PROFANE OR OBSCENE LANGUAGE SHALL BE PERMITTED IN OR ABOUT

THE HOUSES OF THE DEPARTMENT. MEMBERS MUST REFRAIN FROM CONGREGATING IN FRONT OF OR

ADJACENT TO COMPANY HOUSES

RULE 22

SEC. 1

IT SHALL BE THE DUTY OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT TO WEAR THE PRESCRIBED

REGULATION UNIFORM AT ALL TIMES, EXCEPT FROM THE TIME OF RETIRING UNTIL 10:00 AM AND WHILE ON

LEAVE OF ABSENCE, OR WHILE PERFORMING SPECIAL WORK OR DUTY. MEMBERS ARE PROHIBITED FROM

DOFFING THEIR UNIFORMS DURING THE DINNER AND SUPPER HOURS.

RULE 26

SEC. 1

NO MEMBER OF THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BE A DELEGATE IN PERSON OR BY PROXY TO, OR A MEMBER OF,

ANY POLITICAL OR PARTISAN CONVENTION, STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE, OR COUNTY OR CITY

COMMITTEE, NOR WHILE A MEMBER OF THE DEPARTMENT BE A CANDIDATE FOR ANY POLITICAL OFFICE

RULE 30

SEC. 1

THE OFFICERS AND MEMBERS ARE TO AVOID THE UNNECESSARY DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, BEARING IN

MIND THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS ORGANIZED TO SAVE PROPERTY, NOT TO DESTROY IT. THEY ARE TO

CAREFULLY AVOID THROWING WATER INTO FURNISHES ROOMS OR UPON MERCHANDISE WHEN NECESSITY

DOES NOT REQUIRE IT. THE UNNECESSARY DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY WILL BE REGARDED AS EVIDENCE

OF INCAPACITY

RULE 31

SEC 1

ALL MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONDUCT THEMSELVES QUIETLY AT FIRES, SHOUTING OR

BOISTEROUS CONDUCT WILL NOT BE PERMITTED

RULE 33

SEC. 1

IT SHALL BE THE DUTY OF THE MEMBERS OF A COMPANY TO HITCH THE HORSES TO THE APPARATUS DAILY

AT 8:00 AM, 12 NOON AND 5:00 PM, AND ALL SNAPS, TRIPS AND APPLIANCES PERTAINING TO THE HARNESS

MUST BE RELEASED THE SAME AS WHEN THERE IS AN ALARM. THERE WILL BE NO HITCH-UPS ON SUNDAYS

OR LEGAL HOLIDAYS.

RULE 36

SEC. 1

THE COMMANDING OFFICER SHALL ARRANGE THE MEAL HOURS OF THE MEMBERS OF HIS COMPANY, AND

  FILE A WRITTEN REPORT OF THE SAME WITH THE CHIEF ENGINEER. MEMBERS TAKING THREE MEALS PER

DAY SHALL BE ALLOWED ONE HOUR FOR EACH MEAL, AND THOSE TAKING TWO MEALS, ONE HOUR AND A

QUARTER FOR EACH MEAL NO MEMBER SHALL GO A GREATER DISTANCE FOR HIS MEALS THEN THREE

BLOCKS FROM THE HOUSE TO WHICH HE IS ATTACHED, WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER. IN

THE CASE OF AN ALARM DURING MEAL HOURS, ALL MEMBERS MUST RESPOND PROMPTLY. MEMBERS MUST

NOTIFY THE COMPANY COMMANDER OF THE ADDRESS OF THEIR EATING PLACE AND RESIDENCE, AND OF

ANY CHANGE THEREIN, AND SAID OFFICER SHALL KEEP A RECORD OF THESE PARTICULARS CONCERNING

EVERY MEMBER UNDER HIS CHARGE

RULE 46

SEC. 1

MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT MUST PAY THEIR SUBSTITUTES FOR WORK DONE DURING A MONTH AS SOON AS THEY RECEIVE THEIR SALARY FOR THE MONTH IN WHICH THE SUBSTITUTE DID THE WORK.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE